Lubrication of conveyer rollers



June 23, 1942. 1-. e. NYBORG 2,237,357

LUBRICATION OF CONVEYER ROLLERS Filed March 15, 1940 21 I 3- k X \m 13 64 I6 f I KY Ill Q0601- 2 Attorney Patented June 23, 1942 LUBRICATION FCONVEYER. ROLLERS Ta'ge Georg Nyborg, Worcester, England, assignor ofone-half to The Mining Engineering Company Limited, Worcester, EnglandApplication March 15, 1940, Serial No. 324,199 In Great Britain March18, 1939 '4 Claims. (01. 308-187) This invention relates to rollerssupported by bearings near their ends and more especially to rollers forconveyer belts.

It is known to use oil lubrication in such rollers, "the oil beinggenerally contained in the shell forming the outer casing of the rolleror in an inner tube round the spindle connecting the two end rings inwhich the bearings are housed. In these arrangements, if the roller isrunning appreciably oil the level, as frequently occurs in conveyersused for mining practice, or in the inclined rollers of troughed idlers,the oil tends to run to one end of the roller and to starve the upperbearing.

The object of the present invention is to provide an oil lubricatedroller in which the oil is maintained in close proximity to the bearingsat each end of the roller irrespective of the angle to which the rolleris tilted.

In an oil lubricated roller in accordance with the invention, the oil isretained in close proximity to th': bearings at each end by theprovision of an oil chamber of such a shape that the quantity of oilretained in it, irrespective of the angle to which the roller is tilted,is sufficient to flood the bearing when the roller is in approximatelyits designed running position.

A further feature of the design is that the annular space between thespindle and shell in the body of the roller may be used as a lubricantreservoir from which the chambers associated with the end rings maybereplenished simply by upending the roller each way in turn andpermitting the lubricant to flow through the annular clearance spacebetween the spindle and the outward directed portion of the chamberwall.

Some specific forms of which the new or improved features, combinationsor arrangements of parts form in themselves parts of the invention willnow be described in some detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawing in which:

Fig. 1 represents a cross-section through one end of oneform of improvedroller,

Fig. 2 represents a similar view of another form, and

Fig. 3 represents a similar view of yet another form.

In the forms illustrated, the roller comprises a sleeve I supported byend rings 2 which are mounted on ball bearings 3 on a spindle 4, all theparts being locked. together by spring ring abutments 5 on the spindle.The end rings 2 and the associated means for retaining the oil of theroller so that a description of the arrangement at one end shouldsufllce.

At the back of the end ring 2 carrying the bearing 3 there is providedfor the lubricant, an annular chamber 6 enclosed by cylindrical wallsparallel to the axis of the spindle. The annular chamber is defined atthe outer end by the bearing and the end ring and its other end isclosed.

, In the form shown in Fig. 1, the chamber 8 is formed integrally withthe end ring as by casting. The end ring 2 is extended inwardly toprovide a cylindrical wall 1 which merges by an annular end portion 8into a reversely projecting inner cylindrical portion 9. This innercylinder 9 encircles the spindle 4 fairly closely without howevercontacting therewith.

In the form shown in Fig. 2, the chamber is formed between an extensionof th end ring comprising a cylindrical portion III turned inwardly toform an annular flange ll into which is fitted (as by pressing) a tubel2, encircling the spindle 4 and projecting towards the bearing 3.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, the chamber 6 is formed by a member ofannular dished form having inner and outer cylindrical walls i3. I 4coaxial with the spindle axis, which are connected to one another so asto form an annular channel of rounded U-section with the limbs (l3, ll)of the U parallel to the axis of the spindle I.

The outer cylindrical wall ll of this member engages the outer peripheryof the end ring 2 which is cut away at 15 for this purpose and the innercylindrical wall l3 surrounds the spindle in such a manner as to berotatable relatively thereto.

Oil sealing means It are provided outside the bearing 3 so that achamber is formed by the end ring 2, the member defining the annularchamber 6 and the oil sealing means IS. The arrangement is such thatthis chamber can retain a sumcient quantity of oil to flood the hearingwhen the roller is running irrespective of tilting of the roller to anynormal angle.

The oil sealing means may comprise any suitable seal of known type. Asshown in Fig. 3. a leather washer ll in a housing It is pressed by acoil or plate spring l9 against the spindle I. the housing It fittingwithin a recess in the end ring. The housing It is retained in positionby a spring ring 20 in the end ring. Another suitable known typecomprises a seal of synthetic rubber.

Preferably additional sealing means is proin close proximity thereto aresimilar at each end vided on the outer diameter of the bearing boreintheendringbetweenthe'hofl lofth'eoil voiroideilniteoil-retalningcapacity at any tilt sealing means ll and'the outer race of the bearing3. This additional sealing means may. as shown in Fla. 3, compriseswasher 2i oi leather or like material pressed against the bearing racebythe spring ring II in the end ring which re--' v tainsthesealingmeansliinposition. Whena, synthetic rubber seal is used, this may have a lipwhich presses intooil tight contact with the m, The oilse lin'a means isremovable for refilling outer bearing race.

the oil chamber.

I claim: 1. A conveyor or like roller having a shell and end rings,bearings mounted in said endrings, a spindle surrounded by saidbearings, the space between the shell and spindle providing an oil Ireservoir, oil sealing means outside the said bearlugs, and annularoileretainingchambers rotatable relatively to the said spindle and withthe 20' shell and end rings and located in'the space between the shelland the spindle, said chambers having re-entrantportionsadjacentto thespin die to establish restricted communication with the oil reservoirand terminating short of the bearings but of suilicient length to form areserof the roller'to enough lubricant to supply the adjacent when theroller is running in its horizontal or inclined running position.

carried by the outer element inwardly 0! and ad- 'ja'cent each bearing,each chamber beingiormed with a relatively deep recess opening onlytoward the adjacent bearing with an inner wall providing with the innermember restricted communication with the reservoir.

as construction as defined in claim 1', wherein the chamber is formed intwo parts, one being .a tube concentric with and slightly spaced fromtheiinner element;

' 4. A construction-as defined in claim 1, wherein the'chamber is madein two parts, one carried by the outer element and the other 0tv U-iorm,

with one wall in spaced narrow concentric rela 25 tion to the innerelement.

r TAGE mono mom.

